Page 64 of Aftersome
Goddammit.
I winced at the thought of her being upset. I winced at the idea of me caring.
Nothing was more confusing than the mind of a broken hockey player.
Literally and figuratively.
But I was beginning to realize that fighting and arguing with myself was getting me nowhere and frankly, I was getting fucking tired of it. I was tired of it all. Tired of who I was. The way I was.
I was just plain tired.
So finally, on the roll of my shoulders, I’d given myself one last chance to back out.
One last chance to say, “Fuck this,” but of course, I didn’t.
I couldn’t.
If it were any other person, I could, but not Doe.
Not her.
Then putting one foot in front of the other, I walked the short distance toward the house until I was standing in front of the door. I was about as prepared as I’d ever be, which was not prepared at all, but that didn’t stop me from pulling open the door and stepping inside James and Kate’s home.
Then with one single purpose in mind, I began to search. I didn’t care about the surprised or strange looks I was getting as I passed by groups of James and Kate’s family and friends. Even some of my teammates eyed me like I didn’t belong here, but I didn’t give a fuck.
I needed to find her.
I had to find Doe.
24
WREN
Mal was here.
I wasn’t dreaming or imagining it. Standing across the room only a handful of steps away, he stood with one hand shoved into his pocket and the other holding a card. His side profile was the only thing visible and just from that angle, I could conclude that the man cleaned up nice. I was still getting used to the shorter cut on him, but without a hat, he looked so much older.
He looked like a man.
Not that he didn’t before, but seeing him dressed in khaki pants and a button-down shirt, he barely resembled the Mal I knew.
The Mal I thought I knew.
He looked good too.
He looked more than good.
And I hated how my body reacted toward him.
I wasn’t oblivious to the fact Mal was attractive, because he was. But what lingered behind his ruggedly handsome face was by far the most intriguing thing about him. Even now I foundmyself dissecting all the reasons why he was here and what his motives were.
Just by watching him I could sense how uncomfortable he was. Like he was seconds away from making a run for the door, but instead remained stoic beside the table of gifts with a solemn expression across his face.
So out of place.
So unsure of himself and exposed that every part of me wanted to go to him.
“Wren?” a voice had called out to me, tearing me away from Mal and the trance he pulled me in.
